3.
The Chapter on the Vajji Seven
1.
The Discourse on Sārandada
21. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Sārandada shrine. Then several Licchavis approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To those Licchavis seated to one side, the Blessed One said this - "I will teach you, Licchavis, seven conditions preventing decline. Listen to that, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those Licchavis assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this -
"And what, Licchavis, are the seven conditions preventing decline? As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will assemble frequently and have frequent assemblies; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will assemble in unity, will rise in unity, will perform their Vajji duties in unity; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will not establish what has not been established, will not abolish what has been established, will proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajji principles as they were established; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will honour, will respect, will revere, will venerate those who are the Vajji elders among the Vajjis, and will think them worth listening to; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will not forcibly abduct and make to dwell with them women and girls of good families; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, the Vajjis will honour, will respect, will revere, will venerate those Vajji shrines of the Vajjis, both inner and outer, and will not neglect the righteous offerings that were formerly given and formerly made to them; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, righteous protection, shelter, and guard will be well arranged for the Worthy Ones among the Vajjis - 'How might Worthy Ones who have not come, come to the realm, and Worthy Ones who have come dwell comfortably in the realm'; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline.
"As long as, Licchavis, these seven conditions preventing decline will remain among the Vajjis, and as long as the Vajjis will be seen practising these seven conditions preventing decline; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Licchavis, not decline." The first.
2.
The Discourse on Vassakāra
22. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on the Vulture's Peak mountain. Now at that time King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha wished to march against the Vajjis. He speaks thus: "I shall cut off these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful, I shall destroy the Vajjis, I shall bring calamity and disaster upon them."
Then King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha addressed Vassakāra the brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha - "Come, brahmin, go to where the Blessed One is; having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the Blessed One's feet, and ask about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort - 'King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, venerable sir, pays respect with his head at the Blessed One's feet, and asks about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort.' And say this: 'King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, venerable sir, wishes to march against the Vajjis. He speaks thus: "I shall cut off these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful, I shall destroy the Vajjis, I shall bring calamity and disaster upon them."' As the Blessed One answers you, having learnt that well, report it to me. For Truth-finders do not speak falsely."
"Yes, sir," the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, having assented to King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, said this to the Blessed One - "King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, Master Gotama, pays respect with his head at Master Gotama's feet, and asks about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort. King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, Master Gotama, wishes to march against the Vajjis. He speaks thus: 'I shall cut off these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful, I shall destroy the Vajjis, I shall bring calamity and disaster upon them.'"
Now at that time the Venerable Ānanda was standing behind the Blessed One, fanning the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda - "What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis assemble frequently and have frequent assemblies'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis assemble frequently and have frequent assemblies.'" "As long as, Ānanda, the Vajjis will assemble frequently and have frequent assemblies; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis assemble in unity, rise in unity, and perform their Vajji duties in unity'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis assemble in unity, rise in unity, and perform their Vajji duties in unity.'" "As long as, Ānanda, the Vajjis will assemble in unity, will rise in unity, will perform their Vajji duties in unity; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis do not establish what has not been established, do not abolish what has been established, and proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajji principles as they were established'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis do not establish what has not been established, do not abolish what has been established, and proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajji principles as they were established.'" "As long as, Ānanda, the Vajjis will not establish what has not been established, will not abolish what has been established, will proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajji principles as they were established; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis honour, respect, revere, and venerate those who are the Vajji elders among the Vajjis, and think them worth listening to'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis honour, respect, revere, and venerate those who are the Vajji elders among the Vajjis, and think them worth listening to.'" "As long as, Ānanda, the Vajjis will honour, will respect, will revere, will venerate those who are the Vajji elders among the Vajjis, and will think them worth listening to; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis do not forcibly abduct and make to dwell with them women and girls of good families'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis do not forcibly abduct and make to dwell with them women and girls of good families.'" "As long as, Ānanda, the Vajjis will not forcibly abduct and make to dwell with them women and girls of good families; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'The Vajjis honour, respect, revere, and venerate those Vajji shrines of the Vajjis, both inner and outer, and do not neglect the righteous offerings that were formerly given and formerly made to them'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'The Vajjis honour, respect, revere, and venerate those Vajji shrines of the Vajjis, both inner and outer, and do not neglect the righteous offerings that were formerly given and formerly made to them.'" "As long as, Ānanda, the Vajjis will honour, will respect, will revere, will venerate those Vajji shrines of the Vajjis, both inner and outer, and will not neglect the righteous offerings that were formerly given and formerly made to them; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline.
"What have you heard, Ānanda - 'Righteous protection, shelter, and guard is well arranged for the Worthy Ones among the Vajjis - so that Worthy Ones who have not come might come to the realm, and Worthy Ones who have come might dwell comfortably in the realm'?" "I have heard this, venerable sir - 'Righteous protection, shelter, and guard will be well arranged for the Worthy Ones among the Vajjis - so that Worthy Ones who have not come might come to the realm, and Worthy Ones who have come might dwell comfortably in the realm.'" "As long as, Ānanda, righteous protection, shelter, and guard will be well arranged for the Worthy Ones among the Vajjis - 'How might Worthy Ones who have not come, come to the realm, and Worthy Ones who have come dwell comfortably in the realm'; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, Ānanda, not decline."
Then the Blessed One addressed the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha - "On one occasion, brahmin, I was dwelling at Vesālī in the Sārandada shrine. There, brahmin, I taught the Vajjis these seven conditions preventing decline. As long as, brahmin, these seven conditions preventing decline will remain among the Vajjis, and as long as the Vajjis will be seen practising these seven conditions preventing decline; only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis, brahmin, not decline."
"Even with one condition preventing decline, Master Gotama, only growth is to be expected for the Vajjis who are endowed with it, not decline; what then to say of seven conditions preventing decline! The Vajjis cannot be overcome, Master Gotama, by King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, that is to say, by war, except by persuasion or except by breaking their alliance. Well then, Master Gotama, we will now go. We have much to do, we have many duties." "Now do as you think fit, brahmin." Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Blessed One had said, rose from his seat and departed. The second.
3.
The First Discourse on the Seven
23. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on the Vulture's Peak mountain. There the Blessed One addressed the monks - "I will teach you, monks, seven conditions preventing decline. Listen to that, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this -
"And what, monks, are the seven conditions preventing decline? As long as, monks, the monks will assemble frequently and have frequent assemblies; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, the monks will assemble in unity, will rise in unity, will perform their Community duties in unity; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, the monks will not establish what has not been established, will not abolish what has been established, will proceed having accepted the training rules as they were established; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, the monks will honour, will respect, will revere, will venerate those monks who are elders, of long standing, long gone forth, fathers of the Community, leaders of the Community, and will think them worth listening to; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, the monks will not come under the control of arisen craving that leads to rebirth; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, the monks will have longing for forest lodgings; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, the monks will individually establish mindfulness - 'How might well-behaved fellow monks who have not come, come, and well-behaved fellow monks who have come, dwell comfortably'; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, these seven conditions preventing decline will remain among the monks, and as long as the monks will be seen practising these seven conditions preventing decline; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline." The third.
4.
The Second Discourse on the Seven
24. "I will teach you, monks, seven conditions preventing decline. Listen to that, pay close attention, etc. And what, monks, are the seven conditions preventing decline?
As long as, monks, the monks will not be delighting in activity, not devoted to activity, not engaged in delight in activity; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, the monks will not be delighting in useless talk, etc. will not be delighting in sleep, will not be delighting in company, will not have evil desires, not come under the control of evil desires, will not have evil friends, not have evil companions, not be inclined towards evil, will not stop midway with a trifling specific attainment; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, these seven conditions preventing decline will remain among the monks, and as long as the monks will be seen practising these seven conditions preventing decline; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline." The fourth.
5.
The Third Discourse on the Seven
25. "I will teach you, monks, seven conditions preventing decline. Listen to that, pay close attention, etc. And what, monks, are the seven conditions preventing decline? As long as, monks, the monks will have faith; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, the monks will have shame, etc. will have moral fear... will be very learned... will be putting forth strenuous energy... will be mindful... will be wise; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline. "As long as, monks, these seven conditions preventing decline will remain among the monks, and as long as the monks will be seen practising these seven conditions preventing decline; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline." The fifth.
6.
The Discourse on the Factors of Enlightenment
26. "I will teach you, monks, seven conditions preventing decline. Listen to that, pay close attention, etc. And what, monks, are the seven conditions preventing decline? As long as, monks, the monks will develop the enlightenment factor of mindfulness; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, the monks will develop the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, etc. will develop the enlightenment factor of energy... will develop the enlightenment factor of rapture... will develop the enlightenment factor of tranquillity... will develop the enlightenment factor of concentration... will develop the enlightenment factor of equanimity; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline. "As long as, monks, these seven conditions preventing decline will remain among the monks, and as long as the monks will be seen practising these seven conditions preventing decline; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline." The sixth.
7.
The Discourse on Perception
27. "I will teach you, monks, seven conditions preventing decline. Listen to that, pay close attention, etc. And what, monks, are the seven conditions preventing decline? As long as, monks, the monks will develop the perception of impermanence; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline.
"As long as, monks, the monks will develop the perception of non-self, etc. will develop the perception of foulness... will develop the perception of danger... will develop the perception of abandoning... will develop the perception of dispassion... will develop the perception of cessation; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline. "As long as, monks, these seven conditions preventing decline will remain among the monks, and as long as the monks will be seen practising these seven conditions preventing decline; only growth is to be expected for the monks, monks, not decline." The seventh.
8.
The First Discourse on Decline
28. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. There the Blessed One addressed the monks - "Monks, there are these seven things that lead to the decline of a monk who is a learner. Which seven? Taking pleasure in work, taking pleasure in talk, taking pleasure in sleep, taking pleasure in company, not guarding the doors of the sense faculties, immoderation in eating, and there are Community duties in the Community; there a trainee monk considers thus - 'There are indeed in the Community elder monks of long standing, long gone forth, bearing the burden, they will become known by that' - he himself commits to exertion in them. These, monks, are the seven things that lead to the decline of a monk who is a learner.
"Monks, there are these seven things that lead to the non-decline of a monk who is a learner. Which seven? Not taking pleasure in work, not taking pleasure in talk, not taking pleasure in sleep, not taking pleasure in company, guarding the doors of the sense faculties, moderation in eating, and there are Community duties in the Community; there a trainee monk considers thus - 'There are indeed in the Community elder monks of long standing, long gone forth, bearing the burden, they will become known by that' - he himself does not commit to exertion in them. These, monks, are the seven things that lead to the non-decline of a monk who is a learner." The eighth.
9.
The Second Discourse on Decline
29. "Monks, there are these seven qualities that lead to the decline of a lay follower. Which seven? He neglects seeing monks, he is negligent about hearing the Good Teaching, he does not train in higher morality, he becomes one with much distrust, he hears the Teaching with a censuring mind towards monks - whether elders, juniors, or those of middle standing - seeking faults, he seeks one worthy of offerings outside of here, and there he gives priority. These, monks, are the seven qualities that lead to the decline of a lay follower.
"Monks, there are these seven qualities that lead to the non-decline of a lay follower. Which seven? He does not neglect seeing monks, he is not negligent about hearing the Good Teaching, he trains in higher morality, he becomes one with much confidence, he hears the Teaching without a censuring mind towards monks - whether elders, juniors, or those of middle standing - not seeking faults, he does not seek one worthy of offerings outside of here, and here he gives priority. These, monks, are the seven qualities that lead to the non-decline of a lay follower." This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this -
And hearing the noble teachings, does not train in higher morality.
With a censuring mind, he wishes to hear the Good Teaching.
A lay follower who gives priority there.
A lay follower practising them falls away from the Good Teaching.
And hearing the noble teachings, and trains in higher morality.
Without a censuring mind, he wishes to hear the Good Teaching.
A lay follower who gives priority right here.
A lay follower practising them does not fall away from the Good Teaching." The ninth.
10.
The Discourse on Failure
30. "There are, monks, these seven failures of a lay follower... etc. There are, monks, these seven accomplishments of a lay follower... etc. The tenth.
11.
The Discourse on Ruin
31. "Monks, there are these seven things leading to a lay follower's decline... etc. Monks, there are these seven things leading to a lay follower's prosperity. Which seven? He does not neglect seeing monks, he is not negligent about hearing the Good Teaching, he trains in higher morality, he becomes one with much confidence, he hears the Teaching without a censuring mind towards monks - whether elders, juniors, or those of middle standing - not seeking faults, he does not seek one worthy of offerings outside of here, and here he gives priority. These, monks, are the seven things leading to a lay follower's prosperity.
And hearing the noble teachings, does not train in higher morality.
With a censuring mind, he wishes to hear the Good Teaching.
A lay follower who gives priority there.
A lay follower practising them falls away from the Good Teaching.
And hearing the noble teachings, and trains in higher morality.
Without a censuring mind, he wishes to hear the Good Teaching.
A lay follower who gives priority right here.
A lay follower practising them does not fall away from the Good Teaching." The eleventh.
The Vajjian Sevens Chapter is the third.
Its summary:
Enlightenment, perception, two on decline, failure and degeneration.